Multidimensional Exclusion Analysis on Indigenous Social Welfare Policy in Taiwan

Abstract

Indigenous people often encounter social exclusion from mainstream society in many countries of the world. The objective of this study is to address the indigenous social exclusion by focusing on their accessibility to social welfare benefits. The data used in this study was drawn from the Social Change and Policy of Taiwanese Indigenous Peoples Survey in 2007, which included 2,040 respondents. This study employed several binary and ordered logistic regressions to examine the extent to which factors of ethnicity, community participation, and socio-demographic characteristics are associated with the likelihood of being excluded from receiving different kinds of social welfare payments. Logistic estimation of different exclusion equations revealed that the likelihood of being excluded from social welfare payments are higher for those who are plains indigenes, live outside of designated indigenous areas, and less participated in local organization when compared to their counterparts. The main policy implication can be inferred for the multidimensionality of indigenous social exclusion. Stronger physical and social solidarity among indigenous peoples can effectively contribute to enhance social inclusion and accessibility to multiple social welfare resources.